The Ten Commandments Project Blog
Back To Basics: Noah’s Ten Commandments’ Moment
The Torah Portion Noah provides unique insights into the Decalogue. Unlike the Ten Commandments’ “thou shalt not murder,” the Portion Noah’s homicide prohibition statute is complete. The restricted activity, the punishment, and the rationale are all present. Given that the Portion Noah’s statute evokes God’s image within its reasoning, theological questions arise. Thus, the Noah…
The Bereshit Haftarah’s Ten Commandments’ Moment
A Haftarah is part of the Torah Reading Service. The Haftarah reading- a supplemental reading from non-Torah scripture- is a passage selected because it relates to the Torah Portion that is read. One theory advanced as to why there are Haftarah readings is that they began at a time when public Torah reading was forbidden;…
Next Level Common Knowledge: Sukkoth
Steven Pinker examines Common Knowledge in his work: When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows…: Common Knowledge and the Mysteries of Money, Power, and Everyday Life (2025, Scribner.) Dr. Pinker’s Common Knowledge is a term meant to describe human interactions and the knowledge of the individuals interacting. The Sukkoth Holiday- the Festival of Booths- Torah Portion…
Bereshit: The Origin of Evil?
Does the Torah Portion Bereshit explain evil’s origin? The creation narrative certainly offers clues. The results, for some, may be surprising. In the Beginning There Were Grades In Genesis Chapter 1, God grades his creations. Land and sea: good. Genesis 1:10. Plants and vegetation: good: Genesis 1:12. Night and day: good: Genesis 1:18. Sea animals,…
V’zot Haberachah’s Ten Commandments’ Moment
Before the Torah’s finale, Moses charged parents to educate their children. In the Torah’s final portion, V’zot Haberachah, Moses charges the Levites to educate the Israelite nation. In Moses’ blessing to the tribe, he assigns them a special assignment. Forever more, the Levites were tasked to provide covenantal education to the nation. This tasking raises…
Institutionalized Randomness: The Goat, A Yom Kippur Thought
Who will live, and Who will die Yom Kippur’s Torah Portion is the goat on randomness. What should we take away from the universe filled with uncertainty? Yom Kippur- the Day of Atonement- is a moment in which life’s uncertainty is brought to the forefront. It is done with the reading of one of the…
The Big Picture
How does the Decalogue serve as a Community Code of Conduct? Abraham Joshua Heschel answered this question in his seminal work The Prophets. In addressing Hebrew Bible Prophets’ role, he explains the Community Code of Conduct’s nature. His words also bring to light a modern problem. Societal concerns have become distorted and contorted. The End…
Ha’Azinu’s Ten Commandments’ Moment
These go to eleven Nigel Tufnel Moses, in the Ha’Azinu Torah Portion, lectures to the Children of Israel their covenantal responsibilities. In his speech, Moses raises parental responsibilities of the requirement to teach their progeny the commandments. While the Decalogue served as a Community Code of Conduct, the Commandments did not fully lay out the…
Who’s Testing Who? The Akedah
Who’s actually being tested with the Akedah? Rosh Hashanah’s Second Day Torah Portion feature the famous Binding of Isaac. With its holiday reading, Abraham is not tested for his near sacrifice of his son Isaac. His test was a few thousands of years ago on Mt. Moriah. Rather, those presently reading, listening, and discussing the…
Well, Well, Well: A Rosh Hashanah Tale
During the holiday season, sometimes we have to be the “bigger” person. Being largesse is often necessary during the High Holiday season. Rosh Hashanah- the New Year- and Yom Kippur- the Day of Atonement- often come with close encounters of the uncomfortable kind. This especially happens on neutral grounds; synagogues and places of worship. Frankly,…
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